From a sewer into a living river: the Rhine between Sandoz and Salmon

Abstract

After presenting some key data about the River Rhine, the main problems, tasks and the structure of the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) as an intergovernmental organization are explained. Right up to the 1970–1980s, the river was so heavily polluted with wastewater that it was generally called the sewer of Europe (ICPR, A Programme for Migratory Fish in the Rhine System 2004, Kobl enz, 2004). Some milestones—disasters and resulting programmes—in the history of the ICPR are shown, following the main topics of the ICPR work: water quality, ecology, flood protection and climate change. The main outcomes of the programmes are presented and linked with European Directives. It is shown how the achievements of the Rhine Commission have triggered the development of directives at European level, such as the Water Framework Directive (2000) and the Directive on Flood Assessment and Management (2007). Finally, positive and negative experience is reconsidered and factors for a successful transboundary river basin management are pointed out against the background that other river basin co-operations starting their work today could share the lessons learnt by the ICPR.